asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what is his estimate of the net yield of the betterment levy on the transactions in law of the kind set out in Cases A to E of the Land Commission Bill.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources whether he will now make a statement setting out his calculations as to the expected net yield in a full year of the levy proposed in last Session's Land Commission Bill.

I estimate the gross yield of the betterment levy at 40 per cent. in a full year to be about £80 million. The levy will affect the amount which would otherwise be collected under existing taxes, but information is not available upon which to base an estimate of its extent because these taxes are assessed on quite a different basis and are subject to different exemptions.

Is it not extraordinary that the Minister should seek to levy a tax when he has no idea at all of its net yield? Is the position that he does not know—in which case will he undertake to give the Committee some indication of the position—or is it simply that he dare not say what the yield will be because it might be thought to be derisory in comparison with the complexities of collecting it?

I can allay the right hon. and learned Gentleman's anxieties. The net yield will be substantial. That is quite clear. But we cannot go further than this and make a detailed estimate for the reasons that I have given.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot give the House even an approximate figure of the net yield, how does he know that it is substantial enough to justify the very high cost of collecting it?

I have said that it is substantial—one can reach that conclusion—but one cannot go further and particularise because of the different bases of Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax and the different exemptions.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent more farm land from being flooded to make reservoirs for public water supply.

No, Sir. Other means of storing water will be investigated wherever they exist, but unavoidably some farm land will have to be taken for reservoirs. Wherever possible the less good farm land will be used in preference to the better.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour, wherever possible, to adopt the large-scale and modern solution to this problem, rather than the old-fashioned solution which involves nibbling away at ever-increasing quantities of good agricultural land?

As the right hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate, we are vigorously examining the possibilities of large-scale water supply. This is a long-term policy, but meanwhile, unavoidably, we shall have to depend upon some water being supplied from reservoirs.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what correspondence he has received from the Ramblers Association, Yorkshire, East Riding Area, about the ploughing up of Millington Pastures, common land near Pocklington, and the protest ramble of this organisation in November, 1965; and what action he has taken.

The Department has not been approached. Two years the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the previous administration, who was then responsible for commons, declined a request from the local Ramblers Association to intervene because, as my hon. Friend will realise, the Minister has no power to settle disputes. However, if the status of the land is in question, those interested should apply—in due course—for the land to be registered under the Commons Registration Act, 1965.

That appears to be a helpful Answer. Can the hon. Gentleman tell me what person or persons can take action in this matter?

Any person can apply to the local registration authorities for the status of the common to be determined. Such a person does not have to have a legal interest in the land.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources why another committee is being set up to consider changes in the establishment of the Ordnance Survey; and if he will make a statement.

The interdepartmental committee which reported last year examined which posts could be filled by civilians. The present body is working out the best ways of recruitment, arrangements for training and career structures.

Is it not a fact that this will be the fourth committee which has investigated this problem? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a certain officer of a professional association has said that the general position is now absurd?

I am not aware of the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. I suppose that it is true that if one takes the period since the last war, may be even an earlier period, there have been more than the two Committees referred to. But there are only two Committees dealing with this, and their objective is to get as many civilians as possible into the service in the best and most appropriate way.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what is the reason for the upper limit of rateable value of £200 for houses outside the London area qualifying for leasehold enfranchisement under the proposals in the White Paper on Leasehold Reform.

It seems appropriate that this legislation, one of the main purposes of which is to improve the security of tenure of leaseholders, should apply to the same class of property as do the Rent Acts.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there are certain areas in the country, including my own constituency of Oxford, where a very large proportion—in some cases about half—of the leaseholders are excluded from the privileges of enfranchisement by the present regulations, and that it is very difficult to explain to those people why it is just for one class of leaseholder to be enfranchised and not just for another class?

Overall, rather less than 1 per cent. would appear to be excluded outside London. I will certainly look at cases such as those my hon. Friend has mentioned.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources when he will introduce the Bill to implement the proposals of the White Paper on leasehold enfranchisement.

During the present Session.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that brief Answer—it was very much to the point—may I press on him the urgency of this legislation—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] May I ask my right hon. Friend to bear in mind that there is a great deal of urgency in this matter, remembering that, as in the case of my constituency, both the folk concerned and many of the leases concerned are moving towards the end of their span? Would he see that the formula decided on to settle the purchase price—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."]I—am nearly there—of the freehold should be as low as possible, realising, as he must do—

Order. The hon. Gentleman must get there more quickly.

As my hon. Friend is aware, we have taken steps to protect leaseholders whose leases expire before the Bill becomes law. I am well aware of the urgent need for this Bill. My hon. Friend will be comforted to know that we are making good progress.

While protecting the leaseholders, would the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what will happen in the case of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges? If they lose a great deal of revenue, will the Government find an alternative source of income for them?

We have considered the position of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges. We are quite sure that the steps which we are taking are fair to both parties.

What is the Minister doing about the situation which is arising particularly in London where the announcement of the Government's policy has simply resulted in putting up the prices of leaseholds?

That is not the case at all. Our experience is to the contrary.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some landlords are asking exorbitant sums of money for initial repairs before agreeing to statutory tenancies being given to tenants whose leases have fallen in since 8th December, 1964? Is he further aware that these tenants will be unable to take advantage of the Leasehold Reform Bill unless quick action is taken?

My hon. Friend should call the attention of his constituents to the provisions of the 1954 Act and to the assurance given, to which I have already referred.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what views were expressed to him by the Council on Tribunals relative to Clause 8 and the Second Schedule of the Land Commission Bill now before Parliament.

None, Sir.

Did the right hon. Gentleman consult the Council? If so, did it give him any advice?

The Council, on its own initiative, asked for some information which we gave it.